About Samaritan's Hospice & Palliative Physicians

About Samaritan's Hospice & Palliative Physicians

Samaritan physicians are board certified in hospice and palliative care, family medicine, internal medicine, or geriatrics. Hospice physicians oversee the interdisciplinary team and the plan of care. Palliative Medical Partners physicians meet with patients and their families to discuss palliative care options.

Stephen Goldfine, MD
Chief Medical Officer

Stephen Goldfine, MD, DABFP, CAQGM, DABHP, is a palliative care physician with more than 30 years of experience. Since 2003, he has served as the full-time chief medical officer where he oversees the care of Samaritan’s hospice and palliative patients and serves as the liaison between Samaritan and the medical community. He also sees patients and families as a physician with Samaritan’s medical practice Palliative Medical Partners.

Dr. Goldfine is certified by both the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the American Board of Family Practice. With the latter, he has added qualifications in geriatrics and hospice and palliative medicine.

An articulate and engaging speaker, Dr. Goldfine has presented a range of educational workshops to healthcare professionals and the public, including a plenary presentation at the 2017 NJ Lung Force Expo, introductory workshops at the inaugural 2017 and 2018 New Jersey Health Education Leadership Academies, end-of-life seminars at statewide conferences of The Medical Society of New Jersey and the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, and at the 2016 National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Leadership and Management Conference. In 2015, Dr. Goldfine completed Faculty Training with VitalTalk, an organization nurturing healthier communication between clinicians and patients on advance care planning, serious illness, and end-of-life care options.

Dr. Goldfine has been a frequent choice as a Top Doc by SJ Magazine and a Top Physician by South Jersey Magazine.

Dr. Goldfine received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and his undergraduate degree from Emory University in Atlanta.

Sara Pagliaro, DO
Associate Director of Palliative Medicine

Sara Pagliaro, DO is a hospice and palliative care physician with more than 10 years of experience. Since 2012, she has served as a palliative medicine physician caring for Samaritan patients and their families in a hospital setting. In January 2018, she was named the associate director of palliative medicine where she oversees the care of Samaritan’s Palliative Medical Partners patients.

Dr. Pagliaro is board certified in hospice and palliative medicine. She’s a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians and the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr. Pagliaro received her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, NJ, and her undergraduate degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah, NJ. She was named a SJ Magazine Top Doc in 2017 and 2018.

John Bertagnolli, DO

John Bertagnolli, DO brings more than 35 years of family medicine experience to Samaritan since starting at the not-for-profit organization in 2016. He serves as a hospice physician who oversees inter-disciplinary teams and patient care.

Dr. Bertagnolli is board certified in family medicine by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians and also completed the Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Hospice & Palliative Medicine. He’s a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, and the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr. Bertagnolli’s dedication to the community is exemplified through his extensive contributions to teaching and mentoring, plus many years of giving back through volunteering. He serves as a volunteer physician for Missionaries of the Poor in Jamaica, an assistant scout master and advisory committee chair for a local Boy Scouts club, a mission-steering committee chair for the Our Lady of Good Counsel in Moorestown, NJ, and is even an ordained deacon for the Catholic Church.

Dr. Bertagnolli received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, NJ, and his undergraduate degree Rutgers University in Camden, NJ. He was named a South Jersey Magazine Best Physician in the family medicine category for more than five years in row.

Jennifer Chiesa, DO

Jennifer Chiesa, DO serves as a hospice and palliative medicine physician where she oversees the inter-disciplinary team and patient care. She visits patients in their homes, facilities, our inpatient hospice centers, and area hospitals.

In 2013, Dr. Chiesa broke ground when she was chosen as the first hospice and palliative care fellow in New Jersey through an innovative collaboration between Samaritan and the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Chiesa is board certified in hospice and palliative medicine. She’s a member of the American College of Physicians, American Osteopathic Association, American College of Osteopathic Internists, and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Dr. Chiesa received her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, NJ, and her undergraduate degree from University of Scranton in Scranton, PA.

Sanjiv Patel, MD

Sanjiv Patel, MD is a physician with more than 20 years of experience. Since 2011, he has served as a hospice physician caring for patients and their families at Samaritan’s Inpatient Centers. He also serves as lead physician at Virtua Primary Care of Moorestown.

Dr. Patel is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice (ABFP) and the Hospice Medical Director Certification Board (HMDCB)

Dr. Patel received his medical degree from the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA and his undergraduate degree from University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI. He was named a Top Physician by South Jersey Magazine in 2018.

Robin Plumer, DO

Robin Plumer, DO brings more than 35 years of experience to Samaritan since starting at the not-for-profit organization in 2017. She serves as a hospice physician who oversees patients’ care near the end of life, and works with their personal doctors to provide palliative services — including pain relief and social, emotional, and spiritual support.

Dr. Plumer recently returned to the United States after spending nine years in New Zealand, where she held a variety of positions in palliative care, emergency medicine, and sexual health. Prior to practicing in New Zealand, she worked as an emergency physician for 25 years at Virtua and Kennedy Health systems.

Dr. Plumer completed her postgraduate diploma in palliative care from the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. She received her doctorate of osteopathy from the former University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Stratford, New Jersey (now Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine) and a bachelor of arts, cum laude, in interdepartmental studies-neuropsychology from the University of Rochester, New York.

Eva Russell, MSN-Ed., RN, CWS, CHPN, CLNC

Eva Russell, MSN-Ed., RN, CWS, CHPN, CLNC, is the director of clinical services with more than 25 years of experience caring for patients and their families. She is a board-certified hospice and palliative nurse, a board-certified wound specialist, and a certified legal nurse consultant.

As director of clinical services, Eva ensures quality end-of-life care for more than 450 patients. She also guarantees that professional nursing standards are met and that Medicare/Medicaid guidelines are followed.

Eva provides education to Samaritan clinical staff and other healthcare professionals. She’s developed a wound and skin care team to optimize a patient’s comfort and oversees pressure-ulcer training for all certified home health aides. Eva has also created a comprehensive orientation program for newly-hired nurses to ensure his or her clinical expertise in symptom management and end-of-life care.

Eva is a member of the following organizations: Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society, Association for the Advancement of Wound Care, American Board of Wound Management, Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, National Hospice & Palliative Care Association (NHPCO), Health Care Association of New Jersey (HCANJ), American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, NJ Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, and the American Nurses Association.

Eva received her nursing degree from the County College of Morris in Randolph, NJ, and her bachelor’s degree in health service management from La Salle University in Mandeville, LA. She obtained her master’s degree in nursing with a specialization in nursing education from Walden University in Baltimore, MD.